How to compose a Praise?

How to compose a Praise? There is no magic formula and although it may seem quite complex, in fact, it depends more on inspiration than manual labor; when the famous “block” arrives, there is not much that can be done. Many songs that are famous today were locked in the drawer without seeing the light of day until they were finished or found the right interpreter. When a composer says that in a few minutes he was able to write a song, it is because he was in such tune with the spiritual world that he received divine inspiration. There are many cases in which the person dreams of singing something beautiful, but when he wakes up he does not remember anything of what he sang. Each composer has his own technique, some seek to observe everyday life, others musicalize their own experiences, some start at the “beginning” while others start with the chorus; Roberto de Carvalho, guitarist and ex-husband of Rita Lee, says that nothing is better than a striking chorus, the song becomes obsolete without the chorus becoming present; Well, you can have moments of contemplation, make musical partnerships, use a rhyming dictionary, none of that really matters if when it is born you don't believe in it. The band Franz Ferdinand was rejected because algorithms informed that their songs were outside the industry standards, years after that, in 2004, this would become the album chosen by Rolling Stone magazine as number 71 among the 100 most relevant rock albums, selling 3.6 million copies and receiving the Mercury Prize. When we talk about composing a praise song, things get more complicated, because today what was supposed to be, is not always, not all gospel music is praise, there are songs that do not even mention the name of God, others treat Him as a subject that can easily be exchanged or confused with a passion, in this case there is no way to categorize it as a praise to God, but rather as any song that does not break the barriers of heaven because it expresses the feelings of your core. To compose a song of praise to God, one must seek inspiration from the Holy Spirit, seek in Him the right way to worship Him, and this must be done without shame, clearly saying His name without thinking of classifying it in “modern” lyrics so that non-Christians will be happy. You may not even know it, but the world is the world and the Church is the Church! The rules that apply outside do not apply within what has been declared holy. There will always be rejection of what is done for God and greater acceptance of the works of the devil. Today, gospel music seeks more to bring the secular into the church than to bring the church to those who do not know it. Perhaps it is due to a lack of courage, competence, or the frenetic addiction implanted in this era that we must become equal to the world in order to fight it. God’s door has always been and will always be open. Whoever wants to seek it, may seek it. G.K. Chesterton said that “Every age is saved by a small handful of men who have the courage not to be current.” Praising God can indeed be current in melody and rhythm, but let us not be slaves to an industry that does not belong to us, accepts us, or understands us; lyrics written for God are only about Him. If we are talking about us, it is about what He has done for us. We renounce our passions and dreams to live God's dreams. David composed Psalms with divine inspiration in a mature way and aware of what God represented to him. May we be more like this, seeking inspiration from the Holy Spirit, listening to His voice, and composing praises that can not only be wonderful songs but can also be used as a weapon against principalities and powers. Psalm 113:1-3 (Hallelujah! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, praise the name of the Lord!

By: Fernando Reis